math

In math we have now learned our doubles facts, the plus and minus one facts, plus and minus zero facts and a number minus itself facts.  We are moving on to the plus and minus two facts with the three facts to soon follow.  We are also counting by ones, twos, fives and tens and well as learning odd and even numbers and telling time. 

Christmas

This week we continue to study and celebrate the miracle of Christmas and what Christ means to the Christmas season and to us. We are also looking at other countries and cultures to compare how they celebrate this time of year.

The children are oh so excited about the programs that they will be performing here and toward the time off as they anticipate the arrival of "Santa". As my own children begin to mature and wonder about the reality of Santa I always assured them that Santa was a very real person and that it was someone who loved them very much. It kept their fantasy alive a few more years while at the same time always telling them the truth.

I pray that you and your family truly celebrate the reality of the birth of our Savior and the love that was shown to us as God himself became man in order to restore our relationship to Him for all eternity.

In Christ love,

Johnny

Spelling words.

Below are the spelling and sight words for that we will be working on for the next two weeks.  This is list seven of fifteen we will hve this year.

In Christ,
Johnny

1.    that

2.   this
3.   my 
4.   one
5.   so
6.   as
7.   pink

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Each year I am blessed as I am allowed to enjoy the excitement and energy of young children; to watch as they anticipate Christmas and the coming of Santa.  I am also encouraged by five year olds who understand the reason for the season.  I am also priviledged to guide children into furthur understanding that Jesus Christ was and is the greatest gift of all time and that without Him there is no hope.  Thank you for entrusting your children to me.

In Christ,

Johnny

Happy Thanksgiving

As I look back on my life the things I appreciate the most are the times I spent with my family and the things I regret most are those times I should have spent more time with them and didn't.  I urge you to take as much time as possible for your family this Thanksgiving.  You and your children will always be grateful for those times and you will never regret them when looking back.

In Christ,

Johnny

What's Happening

On Friday, Nov. 2, we had a fantastic day in the park.  I have to admit that I was a little leery about being there all day but the kids never once said they were ready to go.  In fact, when one child asked when we were going, I asked her if she was ready and she quickly replied, "NO". 

Last week we began painting our "indian" costumes.  The kids are very excited and looking forward to our feast this Friday.  And of course we are all looking forward to the following week when we are out for the holiday.

This week also ends our food drive for the hungry.  Thus far we have won two of the three weeks for most items brought.

Enough for now.

In Christ,

Johnny

Music Appreciation: "Harvest Song"

Today the Kindergarten class participated in some music appreciation when they listened to "Harvest Song" from Douglas Moore's film score "Farm Journal." First we talked about what harvest means and why we think of it so much in the Fall season. We then observed some elements of a harvest and the Fall season in the painting "Landscape with Cypresses" by Vincent Van Gogh. While listening to the music, the students got to act out different actions people might do at harvest time.

Listen to other "Harvest" music and talk about what this season would have been like for us if we lived in a different time when we were gathering in our own food. The song below is "Traditional Harvest Song" from Romania.

"How" Pilgims

We are currently learning how the Native Americans affected modern culture and how they met their own needs.  Next week we will be making "Indian" costumes to wear for our sharing feast on Thursday, November 16th. 

In Christ,


Johnny

Current events in kindergarten

Things you might want to know.

 

1. Please send non-perishable items to help feed the hungry. We will count each Thursday and the class with the most items will receive ring pop. We will also have a final count November 15 and the class with the most items receives a pizza party. (Our items go in the blue basket.) Not only will we be feeding the hungry but we are also teaching our children the importance of helping those less fortunate than us.

2. Please send in your Box Tops for education. The final count will be
October 29. The class with the most will win an ice cream party.

3. Tomorrow, October 26 we will be walking to the pumpkin patch. We are also getting out of school at 11:45 that day.

4. October 31 report cards will be sent home. After looking them over, please sign and return them.

5. Thursday, Novemver 1, is the 5oth day of school. Your child may dress in a fifties look that day.

6. Friday, November 2, we will be going to Walker Park to do clean up, etc. in an effort to teach children the importance of giving back to the community. We will be having a sack lunch that day. If your child eats a school lunch we will provide a sack lunch or you may send one.

7. November 5-9 is the Schoolastic book fair here in the school library.

What's Happening

WOW!  Parent conferences are finished and the year is flying by.  The amazing thing is how well students are doing. 

We are working on the doubles addition facts and will soon move on the +1 facts in math. 

In language arts most kids are writing sentences with beginning capital letters and ending punctuation marks as well as skipping spaces between words.  We have also finished the 2nd set of sight/spelling words and will soon test on the third list.  One third of the class is already reading stories with several others getting ready to start. 

We are also learning how autumn effects the weather and how the weather effects our surroundings. 

Next we are moving on to the middle ages where we will read stories about knights and dragons before we create our own family shields and dragon mask . 

Kindergarten is AMAZING!

In Christ,


Johnny

St Francis Day

Thursday, October 4th we will be celebrating St. Francis Day with a blessing of the pets.  If you so desire parents are welcome to bring your child's pets that day.  (Please be sure the pets are on a leash or have some other type of control such as cages.)  We will be going to the field across the street from the church for a blessing.  Afterwards, pets must be taken home.

In Christ,

Johnny

Our fourth week

What an amazing beginning.  Kindergarteners never cease to amaze me as to what they are capable of.  We have already begun our sight words and completed out first math assessments. 

 

As you have seen, the first set of sight words have had homework each night. This is to help the child understand what to do on each paper. As we begin the second set of words those papers will be done here at school. The papers will be stamped homework as they all already have that on them. However, you will notice that I have seen them as they will have a check or a stamp on them. We will begin the second set of words next week after we have tested on the first set this Friday, September 14th.

I will make every attempt to keep everyone informed what is happening here via e-mail. However, if you ever what to talk one to one please feel free to do so at any time.

I am amazed at how well your children are doing.

In Christ,

Johnny

Bible verses

One of the most important things we can teach our children, if not the most important, is God’s word. For this reason your child will have a short memory verse each week. Your child’s bible grade will be determined in most part on your child memorizing and repeating to me each week’s verse. Thanks in advance for working with your child on each week’s verse.

The first verse is:

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

In Christ,

Johnny

The first week

It has been an amazing first week of school.  I am completely impressed with how quickly everyone has settled in.  While this is only the 3rd day of school anyone could walk into the room and think that we are in the middle of the year.  I am blessed to be here. 

In Christ,

Johnny

Spring break

SPRING BREAK IS ALMOST HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Parents,

What an awesome God we serve. Spring has arrived early this year and the weather should be great for spring break. So, take some time off and enjoy the time you will have with your children. They grow up and leave home quickly and they will always remember the time you spent with them. IT IS PRICELESS.

In Christ,


Johnny

BICYCLE SAFETY DAY

This Friday March 9, (the day before spring break begins), students will learn all about bicycles and how to ride them safely. Children are welcome to bring their bikes and helmets from home. Helmets are required for anyone riding bikes.

What a fun filled week we are having. On Wednesday, February 29, we went to the CAC and saw the play "Country Mouse, City Mouse". It was very interactive with the audience and had a life message at the end about how people are different but all have something to bring to the table.

Then, Friday, March 2, is Texas Independence Day! So, get your boots, hats and your cowboy duds and have a great time. Yeehaw!! Pet the calf, goat and pig; see a real cowboy up close and personal; pan for gold; deliver mail with the Pony Express; lasso a bull; eat some trail mix; and ride in a horse drawn carriage. You may even find yourself dancing and doing some boot scootin’! The festivities begin at 9 am for pre-school and 10 am for elementary students.

Here at Christ Church School there is just never a dull moment.

In Christ,

Johnny

February 13

It has been a busy couple of weeks. Two weeks ago we celebrated the 100th day of school. The kindergarten students all made an item to wear with 100 items on it. One shirt had 100 stickers, another 100 buttons, one student made 4 strings of 25 jingle bells each and wore one on each arm and leg. We sang jingle bells. We also had a 100 minute recess that day and the kids compared the time to the timed math test we take.

Last week we all went to the livestock show and rodeo. The kids loved it.

This week we are back to a normal routine and we will celebrate Valentine's Day by decorating and eating cookies and exchanging Valentine cards.

There is never a dull moment!

In Christ,

Johnny

Math

This week in math we introduced line segments, the polygon and began adding 2 digit numbers.

In language arts one student has successfully read all 75 stories in our packet and has moved on to choosing his own books to read. Several others don't lack but 4-5 stories in the packet and will then begin with books of their choice.

I am amazed at how well the kids are all doing.

In Christ,

Johnny

January

Wow! Can you believe it's the middle of January already and Christmas was 4 weeks ago? We are moving on in math. All the kids know their doubles addition facts, and their plus and minus zero facts as well as their plus one and two facts along with the minus one and two facts. This week we are doing fractions. It never ceases to amaze me what all kindergarten kids are capable of learning. We are also discussing Martin Luther King along with several other figures and how they changed the way our society veiws people. It is so important for us to understand that all people are God's children and are created equally and loved equally by our Lord.

In Christ,

Johnny

We're back

Christmas is over January is here. School is back in session and while the first day was a little shaky we have all now settled back into our routines. While the weather is still a bit warm (I like that) we are talking about winter weather and how things are supposed to change with the seasons. We are starting our plus 2 and minus 2 facts in math and several kids are biginning to write stories rather than simple sentences. I am sooooooo proud of them and excited about all the growth I have seen.

In Christ,

Johnny